STEM/STEAM 2022
of sensory hairs on the surface, par- ticularly important for knowing what the environment is like outside their hard exterior (Figure 5). When we zoom into annelids, we see the nephridia pores (Figure 6), which leads to a story about what happens to the ammonia from metabolism of proteins in water-living animals (out through any membrane) as opposed to land-based animals (urea and kidneys), or chicks in an egg with no water to wash it out, a feature retained by adult birds (uric acid, so you get a plop on your car and not a whoosh). Ten I went on a mini-Bio-blitz of
Figure 5: The pattern of hairs on the carapace of a copepod. SEM images.
Galiano Island as part of the IMERSS group (Institute of Multidisciplinary
Ecological Research of the Salish Sea) where we went through the forest and I came back with lichens, slime molds, fungi, mosses, and ferns. Who knew that when you zoom into a slime mold, the threads (elaters) and the spores have so much beautiful sculp- turing on them (Figure 7)! We also found a stunning fern spore (Figure 8). Now I have another stub of “walk through the forest” specimens to engage the students! Tat Zoom works for sharing microscopy in real time is confirmed by the feedback and return visits I am getting, such as Shuswap Middle School, on the other side of the mountains (
https://sms.sd83.bc.ca/2020/12/05/thank- you-dr-humphrey/). Microscopy can engage the whole class, even ones who have learning difficulties. I expected that contacting the school boards to announce
Figure 6: The pores on the segments of a marine annelid. SEM image.
my program would not go very far, as the notice would get stuck on the principal’s desk since they are so busy these days. So, I decided I had to go through the teachers, parents, and grandparents. Tis was accomplished by contacting a local Canadian Broadcasting Company radio program, North by NorthWest, aired on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Tey interviewed me and it was very successful. I can recommend the advantage of grandparents and parents and word-of-mouth. Connections with institutes such as science museums that liaise with schools also work. Science World in Vancouver, BC, has a program, Scientists and Innovators in Schools, which has been another way to contact teachers. Many cities now have a science museum, or Science World with teacher contacts. As a person who has been involved in the sciences for a few
decades now, it has been wonderful to see so many girls being excited by STEM in recent years. When I first trained as an undergraduate, we were lucky to see a dozen girls in a full lec- ture room. Now it is almost 50:50. Much of this success comes from STEM/STEAM programs targeting girls, especially where mentors are willing to share their enthusiasm and passion for STEM/STEAM. Tere are a number of STEM programs directed at girls.
Figure 7: The beautiful sculpturing on a slime mold elater. SEM image. 40
Tey show how much fun science can be for girls by interview- ing women scientists with an enthusiasm for their subjects and
www.microscopy-today.com • 2022 July
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